Internal-casing wrench



March l0, 1931. c. A. RAsMufssEN v INTERNAL CASING WRENCH Filed June 28. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mar'ch l0, 1931. c. A. RAsMussEN 1,795,575

INTERNAL CASING WRENCH Filed June 28. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 1o, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHESTER A. RLASMUSSEN, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES R. BUTLER, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA INTERNALeCASING WRENCH Application iled .Tune 28, 1927. Serial No. 201,995.

My invention relates to oil well equipment, and itrelates particularly to a novel casing wrench. In producing an oil well the well 1s drilled to the oil-bearing sands and a well casing is set in place. The oil-bearing sands are then penetrated and an oil string isset in the well. The lowei end of the'oil string has a. screen pipe which sets iirmly at the bottom of the hole. A casing head is attached to the upper end of the oil string. Almost always the upper end of the oil string when it has been set in the well is too high for` a proper positioning of the casing head. It is,

under these conditions, necessary to remove the top pipe of the oil string and tolreplace it by a shorter one. Then making this replacement, it is desirable to hold the oil string from rotation immediately below the top pipe so that the top joint will be broken.

It is an object of this invention to provide an internal casing wrench which may be inserted into the oil string and caused to grip 1t so that the oil string below a certain point cannot rotate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a casing wrench of this character which may be moved into the casing to a proper position and then setto grip the casing.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a casing wrench of the character mentioned in which the torque applied to the casing being unscrewed causes the wrench to grip the casing.

Other objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which I illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a. diagrammatic view illustrating its utility.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the invention on an enlarged scale, the invention being in non-gripping position. Y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but `showing the wrench in gripping position.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of Fig. 2:

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view taken as indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2. y p

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 11 represents a well casing which has been installed in a well, and the numeral 12 represents an oil string. he upper pipe 13 of the oil string is so long that the upper end thereof projects a considerable distance above the fioor of the derrick 14. The casing wrench 16 of this invention is inserted into the oil string so that the oil string may be gripped below the coupling 17 which connects the top pipe to the remainder of the string.'

Referring to the other figures of the drawings the details of the invention will be described. The invention provides a primary `member in the form of a body 2O and a secondary member in the form of a sleeve 21. The body 20 has an upper threaded end 23, by means of which it may be connected by a coupling 24 toa column 25. The upper end of this column 25, as illustrated in Fig. 1, projects above the upper end of the top pipe 18 and may have a wrench 26 applied thereto so that the body 2O may be restrained from rotation. The body 20 has a cylindrical portion 28 which is a sliding fit with an internal cylindrical face 29 ot' the sleeve 21. The. lower end of the body 2O is in the form of a stem 80 which is considerably sn'ialler than 'the other part of the body 2O and projects through a lower cylindrical opening 31 of the sleeve 21. At the ext-reine lower end of Lthe stem 30 is a collar 32 which prevents the sleeve from dropping from the body 20. Formed on the body 20 between the cylindrical portion 28 and the stem 8() is an 0perating means in the form of a cam 34 which provides cam faces 35. These cam faces are tangential to a circle generated around the axis of the body 20 and taper outward as the upper end of the body is approached. The cam `34 is provided with vertical edges 35a, which are a greater distance from the central axis of the body 20 than the cam faces 35 are. These vertical edges 35a comprise the tightening means of the invention.

The sleeve 21 is provided with openings 36 which carry gripping means in t-he form ot jaws 37, these jaws 37 being movable radially outward in a horizontal direction. The outer ends ot the jaws 37 are provided with seri-ations or teeth 3S. rlhe jaws are yieldably retained in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, by reti-actors in the torm oi'i springs Ll-O. 'lhese springs 40 are projected upward to the interior or" the sleeve 21 through openings l1. The lower 'ends ot the springs 40 have threaded portions@ and have 'nuts'vl whereby the)7 may be screwed in place. The lower end ot the sleeve has protector lugs let which prevent the upper face of the collar '32 trom engaging;` the nuts 43. rlh'enpper ends ot the springs il extendpinto sockets 4-6 in the lower surface ot jaws 37. Similar sockets `lt?- are provided in the upper snrtace ot the jaws 3T, so that the latter may be reversed. T he inner 'ends ot the awsST have oppositely disposed diagonal taces 48 which are vadapted to be enfi'aged by the cam 'faces :l5 ot the cam 3&1.

When the wrench isrlowered into the easing 13 the body and sleeve or the primary and secondary members are locked trom axial movement, in the position shown in Fig. Q. This locking is accomplished by releasable means in the form oit a projection or key 5l which is carried by the upper end ot the body 20. This key 51 is adapted to engage a eountersunk shoulder 52 formed in the upper end ot the sleeve 21. `Connected to the upper end otl the sleeve 21 at one end ot' the shoulder is an axial slot 53. lVhen the easing wrench has been lowered tothe proper position the body 2O may be rotated in a direction indicated bythe arrow el of Fig. .7 so that the key 51 will be removed from dotted position 55. in whichposition it en- `ages the shoulder 52. into alignment with the slot 53 as shown in Figs. Q, 3. and 7. This releases the lockingbetween. the jbody and sleeve wh'ch will permit a relative axia movement between the two members. The sleeve 21 is provided with trietion springs 5T which may be considered a part oi the secondary member which are adapted to 'trieiionally eng'aoe the inner face ot the oil stringi' or casing` so tnat when the bodyll is rotated,

. the sleeve Q1 will not rotate and a relative rotational movement will occur between these two parts. After alignment is procured between the projection 51 andthe slot 53 the body 2() may be lowered or moved axially relative to the sleeve 21, the sleeve 21 beinp` held stationary by the Jfriction springs'l'i.

Then the body 2O moves downward the cam ill moves downward therewith and the cam tace-s 35 engage vthe faces 48 ot the jaws 37, moving' them outward from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in Fig'. so that the teeth 38 thereot engage the inner face ot theoil string. rl`he resulting; outward torce ot thecam against the jaws il? is sufficient. to provide a comparatively iii-m engagement between the jaws and the oil string.

Atteil the casingwrench has been set. as just described, the tongs 2li aril applied to the upper end ot the coliunn and attached to the derricl: so that the column and body cannot rotate. A second tong designated by the numeral 6() is applied to the top pipe 13, and the top pipe 13 is rotated in a vdirection to unscrew it. lhen the top pipe lil is initially rotated, the pipe immediately below it tends to rotate and moves the jaws 53T and the sleeve 21 in a rotative direction. Upon an inspection o3"A Fig. 1' it will be seen that the slot 53 is somewhat wider than the projection 51 so that a. relative rotation between the body and sleeve is possible. The action which takes place at this time illustrated in Fig. eterring to this ligure the sleeve and jawsrotate around the body Q0 and the cam 3e, from tull line positions in Fig. into dotted line positions in ('31, so that the vertical edges 85 ot the cam tacos 35 move toward the faces 48 ot the jaws. vertical edges ot the cani taces 35 are on a greater radius than the central parts ot the cam faces, the jaws 37 will le forced outward a little more as illustrated in Fig. (l, so that an extremely lirm engagement will be had between the jaws and the oil strino. The wall 53a ot the vertical slot 53 limits the relative motion between the primary and secondary members, since the key 5l will come into engagement with this wall 53u. lhis is a desirable feature by reason ot the tact that it limits the outward movement which can be imparted to the jaws 3? and thus prevents the casing 12 trom being pierced. The wall 53a constitutes the limiting,Y means of the invention. After this relative movement has taken place. the oil string;-

below the coupling 17 cannot rotate, and the joint at the collar 1:7 will be broken and the top pipe 13 unscrewed. This top pipe 13 is then replaced by a shorter pipe which terminates at the tloor ot the der-rick so that a casinghead which is applied later may be in a proper position. I

I claim as my invention 1. An internal casing` wrench comprisino: a primary member, having` a cam; means tor moving said primary member into a casingl and tor holding same statii'nnv v; a second ary member carried by said primary ineinber, said secondary member being movable in an axialdirection on said primary member; a projection t'ormcd on one oli said members adapted to engage a shoulder of the other ot said nien'ibers tor restrainingl said members trom relative axial movement, one ot said members having a slot with which said pro jection may be aligned to permit `a'relative axial. movement between said members, said slot being` wider than said projection so that said members may rotate relatively atter said Since the relative` axial movement occurs; and jaws carried by said secondary member, said jaws being engaged by said cainand moved into engagen'ient withsaid casing when a relative axial movement between said primary and secondary members occurs, said jaws beingV axial d irection on said primary member; av

projection formed on one of said members adapted to engage a shoulder of the other of said members for restraining said mem-V bers from relative axial movement, one of said members having a slot with `which said projection may be aligned to permit a relative axial movement between said members, said slot beingwider than said projection so that said members may rotate relatively after said relative axial movement occursgrjaws carried by said secondary member, said jaws being engaged by said cam and moved into en gagement with said casing when a relative axial movement betweensaid primary and secondary members occurs, said jaws being moved into tighter engagement with said casingby said cam when a relative rotative movement occurs betweensaid primary. and secondary members; and means yieldably holding said aws in retracted position.

3. An internal casing wrench comprising a primary member, having a cam; means 'for moving v'said primary member into a casing and for holding same stationary; a 'secondarvV member carried by said primary member, said secondary memberxbeing movable in an axial direction on saidiprimary member; means for releasably restraining said primary and secondary members from relative axial movement; jaws carried by said secondary member, said jaws being engaged by said ram and moved into enga-gement with said casing when a relative axial movement between saidprimary and secondary members occurs; and means carried by said secondary member for engaging said casing and trictionallv holding said secondary member from mov-ement axially or rotatably when said restraining mea-ns is released. j.

4. An internal casing wrench comprising:

a primary member, having` a cam; means tor moving said primary member into a casing and for holding same stationary; a secondi ary member carried by said primary member, said secondary member being movable in an axial direction on said primary member; a projection formed on one of said members adapted to engage a shoulder of the other of said members for restraining Ysaid members from relative axial movement, oneof said members having a'slot with which said projection may be aligned to permit a relative axial movement between said members; jaws carried by said secondary member, said jaws being engaged by said cam and moved into engagen'ient with saidcasing when a relative axial movement between said vprimary and secondary members occurs; and means carried by said secondary member Aor engaging said casing and frictionally holding said secondary member from movement axially or rotatablj7 when said projection is aligned with said slot so that said relative movement between said4 primary and secondary members occurs.

An internal casing wrench comprising: a primary member, having a cam; means for moving said primary member into a casingv and for holdingsame stationary; a secondary member carrie/d by said primary member,V

said secondary member being movable in an axial direction. on said primary member; a projection formed on one of said members adapted to `engage a shoulder of the other of said .members for restraining said members from relative axial movement, one of said members having a slot with which said projection may bealigned to permit a relative axialiniovenient between said members; jaws carried by said secondary member, saidjaws being engaged by said cam and moved into engagement withv said'casing when a ielative axial movement between said primaiy and secondary members occurs; means yield-A ably holding said jaws in retracted position;

and meansvcarried by said secondary member for engaging saidcasing and frictionally holding said secondary member from movement axially or rotatably when said projection is aligned with said slot so that said relative movement between said primary.. and secondary members occurs. A Y

6. An internalcasing wrench comprising: a primary member, having arcam; means tor moving said primary Vmember into a casing and for holding same stationary; a secondary meinbeicarried by said primary member, said secondary member being movable in an axial direction; a projection formed on one ot said members adapted to engage a shoulder of the other. ot said members for restraining said members from relative axial movement, one of said members having a slot with which said projection may be aligned to permit a relative axial movement between said members, said slot being wider than said projection so that said members may rotate relatively after said relative axial movement occurs; jaws carried by said secondary member, said jaws being engaged by said cam and moved into engagement with said casing when a relative Vaxial movement between said primary and secondarymembers occurs,said jaws being moved into tighter engagement withV said casing by said cam when a relative rotative movement occurs between said primary and secondary members; and means carried by said secondary member for engaging said casing and frictionally holding said secondary member from movement when said projection is aligned with said slot so that said relative movement between said primary and secondary members occurs.

7. An internal casing wrench comprising: a primary member; having a cam; means for moving said primary member into a casing and for holding same stationary; a secondary member carried by said primary member, said secondary member being movable in an axial direction on said primary member; a projection formed on one of said members adapted to engage a shoulder ofthe other of said members for res-.raining said members from relative axial movement, one of said members having a slot with which said projection may be aligned to permit a relative axial movement between said members, said slot being wider than said projection so that said members may rotate relatively after said relative axial movement occurs; jaws carried by said secondary member, said jaws being engaged by said cam and moved into engagement with said easing` when av relative axial movement between said primary and secondary members occurs, said jaws being moved into tighter engagement with said casing by said cam when a relative rotative movement occurs between said primary and secondary members; means yieldably holdin0` said jaws in retracted position; and means carried by said secondary member for engaging said casing and trictionally holding said secondary member for movement when said projection is aligned with said slot so that said relative movement between said primary and secondary members occurs.

8. An internal casing wrench adapted to be lowered into a casing for gripping the inner surface thereof, said wrench comprising: a primary member adapted to be lowered into a casing; a secondary member associated with said primary member,' said secondary member being movable axially and rotatably relative to said primary member: gripping means carried by said secondary member and operable to grip said casing; operating means for causing said gripping means to grip said casing` upon a relative axial movement of said primary and secondary members and for causing said gripping means vto more tightly grip said casing when a relative rotational movement takes place between said primary and secf ondary members; and limiting means for limiting the tightening` efi'ect ot' said means.

9. An internal casing wrench adapted to be lowered into a casing for gripping the inner surface thereof, said wrench compris- 'igz a primary member adapted to be lowered into a casing; a secondary member associated with said primary member; said secondary member being movable axially and rotatably relative to said primary member; releasable means for preventing relative axial movement between said primary and secondary members; gripping means carried by said seconda y member and operable to grip said casing; operatingl means 'for causing said gripping means to grip said casing upon a relative axial mavement ot' said primary and secondary members and tor causing said gripping means to more tightly grip said casing when a relative rotational movement takes place between said primary and secondary members; and limiting means tor limiting the tightening etfect of said means.

l0. in internal casing wrench comprising: a primary member, having a cam; means for moving said prin'xary member into a easing and for holding same stationary; a secondary member carricd by said primary member, said secondary member being capable et rotatively moving on said primary member and being movable in an axial direction on said primary member; means for release.- bly restraining said primary and secondary members from relative axial movement; jaws irried by said secondary member. said jaws being engaged by said cam and moved into engagement with said casing when a relative axial movement between said primary and secondary members oecurs, said jaws being moved into tighter engagement with said casing when a relative rotative movement takes place between said primary and secondary members; and limiting means for preventing said jaws from being tightened beyond a certain extent.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 23rd day of June, 1927.

CHESTER A. RASMUSSE.

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